Tom Triffitt joins Western Australia

The wicketkeeper Tom Triffitt has joined Western Australia on a two-year deal and is likely to be the state's first-choice gloveman following the departure of Luke Ronchi. Triffitt, 21, has played ten first-class matches for Tasmania over the past two seasons but he was set to have limited opportunities in 2012-13 after Tim Paine's recovery from a long-term finger injury.

Western Australia had sounded out Paine's interest in moving to Perth but he declined, and they are also believed to have shown interest in the New South Wales wicketkeeper Peter Nevill. The Warriors were in need of a new gloveman after Ronchi left at the end of last summer to pursue his career in New Zealand, and his backup Michael Johnson was not offered a new contract.

Triffitt has shown promise throughout the under-age pathways and was part of Australia's triumphant Under-19 World Cup squad in 2010, a side that was captained by Western Australia's Mitchell Marsh. He said the interstate move was too good an opportunity to pass up, with the chance to earn regular appearances in both first-class and one-day cricket.

"I will always be grateful for the chance that Cricket Tasmania gave me to play at interstate level in the last three years, but with Tim Paine coming back from injury I have had the opportunity to move west and I am looking forward to a long career with the Warriors," Triffitt said. "It is sad to leave my home state but I can't wait to get over to Perth. I have a few friends in the Warriors such as Mitch Marsh, Tom Beaton and Travis Birt, who I all played with, and I also look forward to getting to know the other guys in the squad and hopefully enjoy some success."

Although Triffitt is likely to start the season as Western Australia's leading wicketkeeper, he will face competition from Cameron Bancroft, 19, who made his state debut last summer, and Sam Whiteman, 20, both of whom have played for the Australia Under-19s. The Western Australia coach Lachlan Stevens said Triffitt would be a valuable acquisition.

"Tom has been part of a really successful program in Tasmania and has played in two Sheffield Shield finals, so not only does he bring youthful exuberance, he also brings big game knowledge and we know that will help our group," Stevens said. "He was one of the successes of the Australian team that won the Under-19 World Cup, and we are starting to assemble a few of those key players in our squad. That core group of young talent will complement the experienced personnel we have.

"We see Tom adding a bit of assuredness to our middle and lower order. We weren't as dominant at six and seven as we wanted to be last season, and there was a burden left to eight and nine. Hopefully Tom will help to ease that. It is exciting to have three young wicket-keepers on board with Tom joining Sam Whiteman and Cameron Bancroft. All three have a role to play and it should create healthy competition within the group, which can only be a positive for Western Australia."

The state associations have until the end of the week to finalise their contract lists for next summer, with the major moves so far having been the departures of Phillip Hughes, Usman Khawaja and Nathan Hauritz from New South Wales. Tasmania have also picked up the fast bowler Andrew Fekete, who made his debut for Victoria last season.

Brydon Coverdale is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. He tweets here

Good move by Triffitt, as he like Wade before him gets into regular FC matches at an early age away from home... Many other players have often waited too long before getting starts at home - Warner should have moved States 4-5 years ago... WA now have a good squad of young keepers that should keep them good for many years to come...

zenboomerang
on July 3, 2012, 4:40 GMT

@gpm86... Re: State squads - Cricket Australia & the States have websites publishing squads... Try searching after the end of this week for updates...

Meety
on July 2, 2012, 11:07 GMT

@katandthat3 - "Can the summer just start now" - my thoughts exactly.

RandyOZ
on July 2, 2012, 9:10 GMT

Lets hope he is going places. Good luck Tom!

PeterLaunnie
on July 2, 2012, 8:34 GMT

Loss to Tassie, could be a 10+ year shield player and also international...Although good to keep Tim Payne, hope the finger mends and he gets back his rightful international place.

katandthat3
on July 2, 2012, 8:23 GMT

Great pick up from the WACA's and a great move from Tom Triffitt to get further exposure at 1st class level, been impressed of what I've seen from him already. Tasmania can sure breed some keepers. Provided the best including the talented up and comers are getting a chance, it doesn't matter what state they play for, if there are players from within the state on the fringe, they have to work harder, it's good to have that competition otherwise players get lazy if there is little to challenge them. Fekete looked reasonably sharp in the Ryobi match I saw last year, could be a good back up for the Tigers. Looking forward to seeing the finalised squads of all the States and if any fringe players have moved elsewhere on their own account without a State contract to try their luck (similar to what Hauritz did a few years back with NSW). Can the summer just start now.

HatsforBats
on July 2, 2012, 7:52 GMT

Tas are churning out the keepers lately. A first class SR of 62? Here's a crazy idea; how about a keeper try and bat like a batsman, rather than try and replicate Gilchrist.

gpm86
on July 2, 2012, 5:03 GMT

are the squads being published anywhere?

zenboomerang
on July 3, 2012, 4:50 GMT

Good move by Triffitt, as he like Wade before him gets into regular FC matches at an early age away from home... Many other players have often waited too long before getting starts at home - Warner should have moved States 4-5 years ago... WA now have a good squad of young keepers that should keep them good for many years to come...

zenboomerang
on July 3, 2012, 4:40 GMT

@gpm86... Re: State squads - Cricket Australia & the States have websites publishing squads... Try searching after the end of this week for updates...

Meety
on July 2, 2012, 11:07 GMT

@katandthat3 - "Can the summer just start now" - my thoughts exactly.

RandyOZ
on July 2, 2012, 9:10 GMT

Lets hope he is going places. Good luck Tom!

PeterLaunnie
on July 2, 2012, 8:34 GMT

Loss to Tassie, could be a 10+ year shield player and also international...Although good to keep Tim Payne, hope the finger mends and he gets back his rightful international place.

katandthat3
on July 2, 2012, 8:23 GMT

Great pick up from the WACA's and a great move from Tom Triffitt to get further exposure at 1st class level, been impressed of what I've seen from him already. Tasmania can sure breed some keepers. Provided the best including the talented up and comers are getting a chance, it doesn't matter what state they play for, if there are players from within the state on the fringe, they have to work harder, it's good to have that competition otherwise players get lazy if there is little to challenge them. Fekete looked reasonably sharp in the Ryobi match I saw last year, could be a good back up for the Tigers. Looking forward to seeing the finalised squads of all the States and if any fringe players have moved elsewhere on their own account without a State contract to try their luck (similar to what Hauritz did a few years back with NSW). Can the summer just start now.

HatsforBats
on July 2, 2012, 7:52 GMT

Tas are churning out the keepers lately. A first class SR of 62? Here's a crazy idea; how about a keeper try and bat like a batsman, rather than try and replicate Gilchrist.

gpm86
on July 2, 2012, 5:03 GMT

are the squads being published anywhere?

No featured comments at the moment.

gpm86
on July 2, 2012, 5:03 GMT

are the squads being published anywhere?

HatsforBats
on July 2, 2012, 7:52 GMT

Tas are churning out the keepers lately. A first class SR of 62? Here's a crazy idea; how about a keeper try and bat like a batsman, rather than try and replicate Gilchrist.

katandthat3
on July 2, 2012, 8:23 GMT

Great pick up from the WACA's and a great move from Tom Triffitt to get further exposure at 1st class level, been impressed of what I've seen from him already. Tasmania can sure breed some keepers. Provided the best including the talented up and comers are getting a chance, it doesn't matter what state they play for, if there are players from within the state on the fringe, they have to work harder, it's good to have that competition otherwise players get lazy if there is little to challenge them. Fekete looked reasonably sharp in the Ryobi match I saw last year, could be a good back up for the Tigers. Looking forward to seeing the finalised squads of all the States and if any fringe players have moved elsewhere on their own account without a State contract to try their luck (similar to what Hauritz did a few years back with NSW). Can the summer just start now.

PeterLaunnie
on July 2, 2012, 8:34 GMT

Loss to Tassie, could be a 10+ year shield player and also international...Although good to keep Tim Payne, hope the finger mends and he gets back his rightful international place.

RandyOZ
on July 2, 2012, 9:10 GMT

Lets hope he is going places. Good luck Tom!

Meety
on July 2, 2012, 11:07 GMT

@katandthat3 - "Can the summer just start now" - my thoughts exactly.

zenboomerang
on July 3, 2012, 4:40 GMT

@gpm86... Re: State squads - Cricket Australia & the States have websites publishing squads... Try searching after the end of this week for updates...

zenboomerang
on July 3, 2012, 4:50 GMT

Good move by Triffitt, as he like Wade before him gets into regular FC matches at an early age away from home... Many other players have often waited too long before getting starts at home - Warner should have moved States 4-5 years ago... WA now have a good squad of young keepers that should keep them good for many years to come...